Cedar Rapids Washington Rallies for Wild Win

By KJ Pilcher, Reporter

CEDAR RAPIDS – It's a gesture than many teams demonstrate, but rarely see the tangible results.

Cedar Rapids Washington raised their hands in the air with four fingers extended – a sign to fight to the final buzzer.

The Warriors eclipsed a 12-point deficit with two touchdown passes from Reid Snitker to Isaiah Nimmers in the final 1:01 to pull off a 28-27 come-from-behind Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division victory over Waterloo West last night at Kingston Stadium.

Nimmers hauled in a pass from a scrambling Snitker turned inside and maneuvered his way into the end zone with 15.5 seconds left for the winning score.

"I was just trying to make a play," Nimmer said. "Do something for my team. We knew it was never over from the start of the fourth quarter."

Washington (2-3, 2-1 MVCV) put itself in position for the final drive, recovering an onside kick at the West 43 with 59 seconds remaining.

Snitker needed just four plays to hit Nimmers, completing 4 of 5 passes on the final drive. He was impressive on the final two possessions, completing 11 of 15 for 95 yards.

"We were all pretty pumped about getting that onsides," said Snitker, who finished with 232 yards passing and 78 on the ground. "We had a lot of faith. I tried to keep cool and calm and get the ball down the field."

The kickoff recovery came after Snitker hit Nimmers for a 5-yard touchdown, capping a 10-play, 52-yard drive that took just 1:18 off the clock.

Washington Coach Paul James said this was up there with the most miraculous comebacks he has seen. One the seniors will never forget.

"They rose to the occasion," James said. "I told them this was a real gritty performance."

Washington grabbed its first lead with 11:49 to go in the game when Joseph Lenzen, who delivered the pivotal onside kick, drilled a 35-yard field goal. The Warriors led 15-13.

The Warriors didn't have an answer for the West (2-3, 1-2) rush attack in the first half. The duo of Lance Dunn and Alex Young combined for 118 yards on the ground by the break. They averaged more than six yards a carry.

Young put West up 27-15 with touchdown runs of 5 and 30 yards. He finished with 133 yards rushing and three TDs. Dunn finished with 204 rushing yards, including a 39-yard TD in the second, putting West up, 13-6.

Snitker kept the Warriors in the game in the first half, scoring on two TD runs of 9 and 45 yards.